Admission: $18-$32, available by phone, (209) 532-3120; at the box office; and at sierrarep.org

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CORRECTION: The phone number was incorrect in the initial version of this story. The error has been corrected.

His star ascended for about 18 months, its journey seemingly limitless until a devastating plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959.

Buddy Holly was only 22 and had barely begun his role as a founding father of rock and roll when he died in that fatal accident.

He left behind a catalog of Top 40 hits, a style that's influenced succeeding generations, and a compelling story of how a kid from Lubbock, Texas, commanded the world's music stage for a brief, important time.

That story comes to life when Sierra Repertory Theatre opens its 2013 season with "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story." Tonight's gala opener is sold out, but the show runs through April 21 at East Sonora Theatre.

"Typically, the opening show of the season has been a classic, Broadway-style musical ... 'Gypsy' ... 'The King and I' ... 'Fiddler on the Roof,' " said director Scott Viets. "We've seen our audience responding to recent shows (about) Johnny Cash and The Andrews Sisters. We've been wanting to do 'Buddy' for a long time."

That Sierra Repertory is doing it now reflects its growing, younger audience, and its ability to stage a complex show.

"It's not just a revue," Viets said. "It's not a jukebox musical, where you pick songs and have random people singing them. This is a story. It's quite a big (musical) book, and it takes him from humble beginnings, through his first recording session with Decca records, through live performances. You're hearing and seeing everything in Buddy's real time."

It requires a cast of actors who can sing and play musical instruments.

Viets has 16 of them. He found his Buddy in Kansas in Ralph Krumins, who played the role twice before in his native state, first in 2008, then again in 2011.

"I was working for a community theater, and they picked this show," Krumins said. "They said, 'You're tall and kind of musical, can you learn to play the guitar?' So I did, and from that moment on, it was my role for a couple of years."

Krumins, who grew up in Topeka playing piano and violin, knew a few chords on guitar. He learned to play it proficiently as he learned to mimic Holly's voice and that musical hiccup of his.

Unlike Viets, whose parents listened to contemporary 1960s and '70s rock when he was a child, Krumins was reared in a household of oldies playing in the background.

"The name didn't register," Krumins said "It wasn't until I started doing the show that I thought, 'Oh my God, I know most of these songs.' I had no clue they all came from the same dude."

Krumins' favorite has always been "Everyday," used in the 1986 film "Stand By Me," a movie he saw as a kid, and he always liked "Peggy Sue." Since learning the role, he's become a fan of "That'll Be the Day."

He's also become a bigger Buddy Holly fan.

"I like him because he's a normal dude," Krumin said. "He's a normal guy who has dreams and goals. This is the story of a man doing whatever he can to accomplish what he loves."

Buddy Holly, born Sept. 7, 1936, grew up singing country songs and was influenced by the blues and other musical styles. When he opened for Elvis Presley in his hometown in 1955, he turned his attention to rock and roll.

"I tend to take rock and roll for granted. It's been here since the Romans," said Viets, who was born in 1964, the year the Beatles first appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show." "You think of the Beatles' (accomplishments), but Buddy Holly did it first. There's a great quote that Elvis was the king of rock and roll, but Buddy was the father. The Beatles all said they were influenced by Buddy Holly and his music."

So were Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones, who did a version of his song "Not Fade Away."

Capturing this horned-rimmed musical genius is a challenge.

"He's iconic, someone people grew up with," Krumins said. "There's footage of Buddy to watch, but when he was on television, he had to be reserved. They forced him to play calm and cool.

"(Holly) didn't want to give rock and roll a bad name, and he didn't want to get in trouble from stations. It's weird, almost a Jekyll and Hyde situation."

Krumins found his niche on the stage when he was in junior high school and depends on the show's energy to help drive his Buddy.

"What I love about this show is every single person in the cast is so multitalented," Krumins said. "There are so many talented musician/actors, and you don't get that every day. I feel humbled by this cast."

Among them is Angels Camp bass player Alex "Skeez" Nava, who plays Joe B. Maudlin, a member of the Crickets.

"He has connections to some of the original Crickets and family members," Viets said. "He has back stories of things that happened."

They don't necessarily appear in the production, but they lend detail to the cast's understanding of this prominent musical legend and his story.